Diver&#39;s suit



H. HOUDINI.

DIVERS SUIT.

APPLICATION man :uns ao. |917.

1,370,'3 1 6.: Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

IIN-mm WITNESSES A TTORNEYS ,waten lj. f UNITED ,STATES PATENT oFFICE;

' nanny noumm, or nnooxnYN, New Yoan.

y nivnns sUr'r.

To all whom it my concern: Beit known that I, HARRY HoUDrNIV, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county ofbKingsand State of i ew York, have invented a new and `Improved Divers Suit, of whichl the following is a full, clear, and exact description. l

The invention relates to deep sea diving suits or armor-s, and its object is, to provide 'a new and improved divers suit arranged to permit the diver, in case of danger for any cause whatever, to quickly divest himself of the suit while belng submerged and to safely escape andreach thesurface of the Another object is to enable the diver to put on or take oi the suit without requiring. assistance. Another object is to prevent the diverwhen submerged from being crushed-bythe pressure of the surrounding water in case the air supply gives outor the air line becomes fouled for any cause. A further object is to enable the diver to go quickly down to a greater depth, and to" readilyV rise therefrom without consuming as much time in effecting a compressing or a deeompressing action as now required and practised. lOther objects will readily ap pear from the description of the construction and use of the suit as hereinafter set forth.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of upper and lower body sections adapted to incase the diver, and manually controlled connecting means detachably connecting the said body sections with each other, the said connecting means being located exteriorlv and being adapted to be closed by the diver prior to submerging and being adapted' to be opened by the diver while being submerged. Use isalso made '0i a band of stiiit' material t0 hold the pliable material, of which the suit is made, out of crushing contact with the waist and abdomen of the diver.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the divers suit as applied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the lower portion of the upper body section and the upper portion of, the lower Specication of Letters Patent. application inea June so; 19172 serial Noafiw'ri.

.'-suit while being submerge Patente Mar. i, i921.

body section, and the' connecting means for detachably connecting the body sections with each other.

.F1g. 3 is a perspective View showing the diver in the act'of divestin himself of the Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevationl of the connecting means'connecting the upper and lower body sections with each other;

F ig. 5 is a Sectional plan view of the same;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the same on the line 6'-6 of Fig. 4; L

Fig. 7 isa perspective .view of the lower end of one of the trouser legs includin the incasing means for the corresponding oot;

Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of one ofthe shoes in position; and

, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the gauntlets f or use on the arms and legs.

The divers 'suit in its general construetion consists of an upper body section 10 and a lower body section 11, the sections being made of an impervious pliable material such as rubber, waterproof textile material, or the like. The .upper body section 10 is .soV

in the form of a 4tubular coat provided with sleeves l2 terminating in integral hand in casing means 13, preferably in the form of mittens, as 'plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The upper body section 10 is provided with the usual metallic helmet 14 attached to a saddle 15 forming a breastplate, back plate and shoulder portions, and secured to the material forming the body section 10, the said helment and saddle protecting the head and upper portion of the divers body in the usual manner. The helmet 14 is Aprovided With the usual windows'l and is connected with an air supply pipe 17 for supplying air to the interior of the suit for breathing purposes and for sustaining the pressure of the water when the diver is below the surface of the water.

T he lower body section 11 is in the form of trousers having legs 20 terminating in integra-l feet incasing means 21 (see Fig. 7). In order to connect the lower end or-waist of the upper body section 10 with the upper end or waist of the lower body section 1l, the following arrangement is made: On the lower end of the bodysection 10 is secured a band 25 of rubber or similar material proc so ' 37` 38 one on the other. The belt 30 is pro- `of' theV tion, as shown in Fig. 3.

they band exceedingly strong. Onto thisband fits the upper or waist. portion 28 of the lower body section 11, the said portion being provided exteriorly with a split metallic b ,elt or band 30 convex in cro section to snugly press the upper'portion 28 in firm contact with the metallic band 27' with 'av view to provide an air and watertightv joint between the upper and` lower body sections and at the same time firmly connect the said body sections with each other. -The split belt or A band 30 may be riveted, gluedY or otherwise fastened to the upper of the lower body section 11, or held in place by dlogps 31, as plainly indicated `in Figs. 1 an adapted to be drawn together byan exterior means under the control ofthe exterior means being .preferably in the form of a lever 32 ulcrumed at 33 on one end of the belt `.30 and` pivotally connected by a link 34 with the other free end of 4the* belt 30 'at 35. `The lever 32is providedwith a handle 36 adapted to be taken hold of by the diver for the latter to swing the lever from theV open position shown in Figs. 2\and` 3 into the closed position shown in Figs. l, 4. and 5, or vice versa. By the arrangement described the upper portion 28 of the lower body section 11 can be readily placed in register with the arched band 27 while the lever 32` and link arein open position, and the diver by swmgmg the lever 32 over from the left to the right draws the ends of the belt 30 together thus lrmlyseating andclamping theupper portion 28 on the band 27;- When it is deslred to open the belt 30'with a view todisconnect the body sections from each other, it is only necessary for the diver to take hold handle 36 ofthe lever 32- and swing the latter back from the right to the left to `unclamp and free the waist 28 .from the band 27 to allow of dropping 'the body secerably made in sections 37,38, adjustablv 'connected with each other by bolts 39 held on the sections 38 and enga -ng slots 40 ed in Vthe sections 37.

38 are prefprevent accidental slipping of 'the sections vided with outwardly` extendingY pairs of lugs 45, each pair containing'a weight '4 6 place by screws L7-enga screwing in tothe ends between them,rthe weight being fastened in the weights 46. By the arrangement described the weights 46 can be'interchanged for heavier orA lighter weights.

The 'shoes so are provided with weighted soles 51 and similar heels 52, and the shoes are open along the median line of the front from the top to neanthe forward end, as plainly md'lcated 11i-Fig. 8.,V A buckle strap vheld on' the sole off the portion 28,

he free ends of 'the belt 30 'are diver, the saidv The link 34 is pref-.

he opposite r g the lugs and 53 provided across the top of the front portion of the shoe and a'buckle. strap 54. is

21 (see Fig. 7) b'y passing thrqughslits 55 formed in 'the sides f. thel feet .`ncasing means 21' and extend-ing through `slits .56 formed inthe sides' of the shoe 50 at the heel ,52 thereof. The` outer lends of the buckle strap 54extendacross the shoe over the instep, and the ends of-the strap are buckled together, as plainly indicated 1n Fig. 8.' The top of the shoe is 'provided withga split metallic band 57 around which` passes 'a buckle strap .58 to close Ithe shoe atl this'upper end wthoutJjhowever, binding on the lower end of the corr endingtrouser leg 20 thus a1- lowing' the dlver to slip his feet and the feet incasing means21 out of the shoes whenever it. is desired ito do so, 'While being submerged orl when divestinghimself of the suit on board of-Qa vessel or on land; In order -to permit the-diver to freadily slip his feetout of the feet incasing means and out of the shoes, the latter 'are,provided,at the backs with'stilening plates'O secured to the shoes at -the heels 52, the backs. of the feet mcasing means shoes and the metallic; bands,` 57 thus pre?V venting the. rear portions of the' shoes from collapsing onto 4the back ofthe divers feet andthus 'holding the divers feet against slippingout of the shoes. It be noticed -thatthe weight of the soles 51 and the heels 32 of the shoes may be-.decreased to a considerable extent by the provision of .the

Weights 16 on th'e diver. to more-easily walk about. By providing interchangeable weights 46 the weight of the .divers suit can beincreased or diminnished. according to the depth of the water in )which the diver is to' go down at the time.

*In order to prevent the air withinA the belt 30 thus'enbling the.

diversfsuit from'infiating the hand inclosing 'means 13 and the feet inclosin -Vmeans 21, use is made of-gauntlets .70 o a sti materialand split lengthwise to permity of conveniently -placin the gauntlets exteriorly in 'position on t ebody sections 10 and- 11 at the forearms and the lower :portions untlets Yare provided with" closing means 11 for drawing the gauntlets tightly shut on the arms and legs to prevent the air from reaching the inclosing means 13 and 21. The closing means 71 are referablyn the form of snap levers exten over an exterior grooved flange 72 formed on .one side of the gauntlet 70 and fitting onto a correspondingly shaped ridge 73 formed on the other side of the untlet, as plainly indicated in Fi 9. y-the-arrangement described the" iver can readily open the fastening' devices 71 '-to divest himself of the gauntlets either when beingssubmerged or when on land.

It is understood'that the usual means foiof the legs' adjacentfthe .shoes 50. The 115 raising 'and loweringV the diver and the means for signaling purposes are o f, the

usual construction. -e f The upper and lower body portions while in separated condition are donned separately, that is, the lower -bodyportion 11 is preferably donned first with the lever 32 in open position, and then the diver slips the upper body portion over his head until thesaddle 15 rests on his shoulders land the head extendswithin the helmet 14, then the diver drawsup the lower body portion until the waistband 30 registers with the waistband 27 of the upper body portion, and then the diver swings Ithe lever 32 into closed position to firmly seat the band 30 on the band 27 and thereby form a tight joint', as above described. It will be noticed that the helmet and saddle need not be detached at'all from the upper body portion unless for any specialreason it is desired to do so. 'Ehe gauntlets 70 can be subsequently laced` in position but the shoes are preferaby. put

on prior to donning the upper body sec-j tion 10.' Y

From the foregoing it will be seen that-by ,the arrangement described the diver himself can readily don the suit when Aon land or on board of a marine vessel without assistance from other persons, and when the diver is submerged and becomes jammed 'at the bottom of the ocean or ),'iver or that the air supplyogives out, it is only necessary for the diver to-swing the lever 32 into open 'position to allow the lower body sectlon 11 to drop down (see Fig. 3) and step out, and then to divest himself of the upper body section by bendingover with outstretched hands and quickly pulling back the upper b ody to free `himself of theupper body`section 10aided -by the resistance of the water which' rushes into the said body section. The diver can now rise to the surface of the wager completely free of thefsuit. By lactu l tests 1t hasbeen proved that not nly a diver `but aninexperienced person when :submerged can escape from the suit in less Y' necting the body sections 10 and 11 with each other,.a

than 45 seconds. It -,will further be noticed that by having the s/ trong metallic band`27 and the belt 30 atthe waist, and which parts'L form part of the connecting means for conprotecting means is 'provided for protectm the waist and abdominal portion of the diver against the pressure of the surroundlng water and consequently less air ressure within the suit is required. Thus y reduction inA air pressure the. usual time` consumed in effecting the compressing or decompressing action is reduced to a minimum. 'By providing the metallic band and 'belt the danger of the squeeze either inr the diver falling down or beingblown up is reduced to a minimum. By weighting the Suit at thelconnectng .means between the' sections.

.upperiand lower body sections this `weight is supported from the shoulders of the diver and a correspondingly lighter weight can y be used on the shoes.

vlIt is understood that when the diver is .incased in the suit and submerged with the sections connected with each other then escape of air from within. the" suit and inow Aof'water 'from .without isvcompletely prevented. L

It is further expressly understood that as soon as 4the upper and lower body sections l() and 11 are disconnectedfrom each other into the sections to exert a displacing action on the suit sections, thus aiding`the diver to quickly extract and. free himself fromthe sections.

It is further understood that the improvements described .apply equally well to a selfeontained diving sui't without a J,supply of air from above. i

In ycase a diver is downsay to a high pressure and it would be dangerous for him to' come up quickly without recompression, nother diver'may take a helmet down to the diver in distress to allow the latter to escape from the suit, insert his head into the extra helmet and be gradually brought to'the sur face.

- case the diver against the escape of airfrom Within the suit and 'against inflow of Water when submerged,- the sectlons `having thelr adjacent ends. .in overlapping relation, the l, lower `sectionhaving means to allow the i diver when submerged to step out of the lower section, and the upper section having means to allow the diver when submerged to 'draw the upper portion 0E his body out of this upper section, a d instantaneously operable releasing andmeans at the said overlapping ends to 'connect. the said ends witheach other -to form an air and. water-tight joint betweenthe `said overlapping' ends, the said-means having automatic separable' lio exterior' actuating devices urder the control of thev incased diver to permit tlelatter.'

when submerged to open-the joint and separate the overlapping ends to. allow the diver to extract himself when/submerged aided .the inrush of the surrounding water in vo urhe to .exert a displacingaction on the suit 212A." divers suit",r

comprising an upper' body section of pliable material and including incasing means for the arms-andhands, and a helmet having theusual airV supply, a

.lower 'body section having legs and shoes.

attached to thelegs, the waist of the said upper body section and the waist of the said lower body section having coacting means forming an airV and watertight separable joint the said upper body section having means to allow the diver to draw the'upper portion of his body inluding the ar'msand hands out of theupper body Section when s ubmerged,and the said lower body section having its legsl and shoes provided` with means to allow the diver, when submerged,

- to step out of the said lower body section,

Y againstithefinflow of water, the said. con- -and exterior controlling means on the-said joint. to normally hold the joint closed Y trolling means having an actuating member tions to aidthe diver di-vesting himself exterior controlli under the control of the diver to permit the diver -when submerged to open the joint and separate the waists to allow the sections to separate andthe water to rushintothe-sec-- of thesaid sections.

. 3. A divers suitl comprising an upper body section of pliable material and includ ing incasing'means for the arms and .hands and a helmet having the usual air supply, a lower body sectionhaving legs and shoes attached to the legs, thewa'ist of the said u ing an actuating member ,under the control the ldiver in 'divesting himself of the said sections.`

,of thedive r to permit the diver when sub- .merged to open the joint and separate the waists to allow the sections, to separate and the water to rush into the sections to aid 4. A divers suit, comprising` sections adapted to incase the diver against the escape of air withii i the suit and against inflow of water when submerged, and manually releasing and 'automatically separable means allowing the 'said sections to be rehimself whe'n submerged aided by the 'inleased and automatically'e 'separating one from the other to allo'wthe-diver to extract rush of the surrounding water in volume to exert a displacing action on the suit sections.

vided with' a helmet and sleeves terminat- 5.-A divers suit, comprising a coat pro-rr ing in hand incasing means, trousers having f legs terminating Vin feet incasing means,

bands of stiff material at the waists of the said coatand trousers and adapted to over-v `lie `each other, and manually controlled means to move the bands out of overlying relation to allow the coat and trousers to separate automatically and permit the diver by the inrusli -of the surroundin water in t'o extract himselfl when submerged aided volume to--exert a displacing `actxon on the :g

said coat and trousers.

6. A divers suit, comprising a coat provided with a-helmet and sleeves terminating in hand incasing means, trousers having legs terminating in shoes having means to per-- mit the diver to withdraw the feet while the shoes are attached to the legs, and manually controlled exterior connecting and releasing means connecting the waists of the coat and trousers to form an air and water-tight 'oint and Acapable of bein opened by the iver when submerged to a low. automatic separation of the coat and trousers.

7. A divers suit, comprising u per and lower body sections provided-at t e' waists withbands adapted to overlie one -the other, one of the .bands being annular 'and the other bein split, -a lever at `one end of 4the said split and,'and a link connecting the other end of the said .split band with the said lever;

' 8. A divers suit com risin an u r body section provided exteriorly at the waist with an annular band of a stiff material, a

lower body section Vhaving an open or split 4 bandA fitting the said band'ex'teriorl a lever at one end of the said split ban and a link on the other end of the split band to permit of drawing the'split baud 4tight on the annular band or releasing it therefrom. 9.1A divers suit, comprising an upper bodyA section provided exteriorly at the waist 'Y \with an annularO band of a stiff material, a

lower body section having an open Y or split end litt-ing the said baand exteriorly, a lever .at one end of the split'band to permit o'fy drawingthe split band tightPA on the annular band or releasing it therefrom, the links bes g made in sections adjustably fastened together." js' HARRY HOUDINI.4 

